November 16th 2015

Hey you guys!!!!!!

This has been a pretty good week. We had a lot of fun. Had plenty of appointments at the beginning, but had to roll with things as they would slowly drop on us. But we did get to do service. As well as enjoyed the new people we met. Got some referrals and enjoyed contacting them. Have some great potentials in our teaching pools. With that we are also hunting down some less actives. We also had a family of 6 (less active) come to church after a while. We have been teaching them for a while. The wife is great and desires to come, but work keeps her away. The husband is a little less keen, but lately he has been joining in on the lessons and seems to be catching on. With him coming to church we are hoping his desire to do what is right is growing. But unfortunately we get to work around some habits that he has picked up over time. I am grateful for the commandments to keep us in line. Satan is a tricky little one. deceives and distracts. It has been cool to see some great changes in people. We also took another little trip to Knysna. Spent some time there for an interview. 

But that is about it for us. We will be having a regional broadcast as well. It will be treated like stake conference which will be interesting because we will be alone as a unit, so at most we will have 70ish people at this "stake conference" :) but i am looking forward to it. It is nice to hear from our leaders. We are now in week six. Time has flown. This week transfer news will come, but none of us are expecting any changes. But if any happen i will let you know next week.

But yeah, here we go...

Dad, thanks for inviting and doing missionary work. So the home is going good. Can't wait to see pictures. Change has been a big part of growth so hopefully this change will inspire come great growth. 

Counseling would be fun. I have considered counseling. When i read my blessing i think of counseling. I am still considering that or English teacher. All i know is i want to help people and try and read along the way. Which brings me to something else. I read a very interesting book this week. Found it in our boarding. It is called Spirit of Fire by John Pontius. It was good, luckily a quick read. It was very interesting. It is fictional but follows a family. They go through their struggles and everything but their way of facing them was a great example of faith. They trusted in the Lord. Relied on the spirit and everything like that. One of the sons served in South Africa and had some crazy experiences. It was a very interesting book. I will look for the sequel later. But i bring it up because of what you said about doing what the Lord wants. This family had a fire, they were farmers and had to trust when it came to that, even to keeping the Sabbath holy. It was a great read. The father in the book reminded me of you. Your faith and willingness to do what the Lord would have you do and say. Thanks for being such a great example. 

So we are doing family history selfies now? :) that is cool. I wonder what will be next. We will probably start having family history birthday parties or something. :) I can't wait to be able to get back into that swing of things. 

Thanks for the great pictures. I love the costumes. 

I love you dad!!!

Mom, yeah it is getting warm here. But it will get a little cold at night. And it will rain as well. Luckily the peak of summer will hit in February, so that will be nice. So i have the fan ready for heat and a big blanket ready for the cold. I do get cold easy. 

I have not heard anything yet either. Maybe this means i will be out here even longer. :) But maybe it will come soon. Most people do get travel plans by this time. Andios (i don't know) looks like we will just have to roll with it. But my guess with a date will be the week of the 7th. The 7th is the transfer day and so will will probably leave the next day. But we will find out soon enough. 

I love the talk from Elder Holland as well. I love the scripture, "Lord, I believe. Help thou my unbelief." It does start with that seed. And then nourish and focused on it will grow. With t tree no one focuses one the big tree that it can become, but rather they enjoy watching the tree grow over time. They focus on what it is in that moment and nourish it and care for it. So it is with us.

Happy to hear 

Meagan it dating. But you might want to worry about skating, they might just hold hands to keep balance :) just kidding :) happy to hear the growth coming from the girls. They are doing so much. Growing up too fast.

Thanks for the money. It came in handy this week. We got some romans pizza because it was my companions birthday. So thank you. 

I love the pictures. Those deer look kind of crazy. But i love the best friends quote. Best friends truly are the best. 

I love you Mom!!!!!

Bryant, Well brother. Looks like you are doing well over there. Keep working hard. I love you!

Meagan, you dating machine. I am happy you are enjoying life. Keep practicing and dancing (you can never really call that homework can you?). Happy you are enjoying football. Are you going to end up dating a football player, just make sure he is good and just like Bry. That is the only type of footballer i think we could allow you to date, unless you mean footballer like over here, which means soccer, those people i don't even know about. So caution :) . I think that is enough dating counsel for today. 

Keep working hard in school. When it comes to splits with the Sisters, just be yourself and be willing to listen to the spirit as to anything you might say. Be ready to bear your testimony. Talk with the sister and enjoy the time there. Observe and watch the way she works, take some mental notes. And have some fun!!

You will do great.

For my side everything is good. Just enjoying life.

Love you Meagan!!!

Heidi, girl, you are growing up fast. Now you are petting deer and feeding them peach leaves. I didn't know that deer eat peach leaves. That is cool stuff. Thanks for the great stories. I am sorry your tongue was black. That isn't good. Hope it gets better. Happy you are preping hard for the holidays. I am here enjoying my water. I heard a Christmas song in the store the other day, so they are preping too. But i am still looking for my Christmas tree here. Oh don't forget to send the pictures.

You are one smart cookie aren't you? Keep it up Bud. Love you!!!!

Jera, thanks for the pictures. Wow those ones are growing up fast. And Gavyn's home crazy how time flies. Happy the ambush went well. Fairs and petting zoos are fun. Feel bad for Kora. It is not fun to get snapped at especially by a duck. All we deal with are dogs. I have had to take many deep breaths and open the gate just to get to the door. Luckily most dogs are just bark, but that is pretty scary sometimes. The thing i most worry about though is the fleas. Now those things are annoying. Memories :) 

Thanks for your emails as well. They always have such funny stories and adventure. 

Love you!!!!

Well another email down. Thanks for everything, you are all so great. Hope you have awesome weeks. Keep giving it all you got. Can't wait to talk next week. I quote Heidi with i miss and love you all bunches and bunches. :) 

Love, Elder Pennington the Elder